Brunner campaign consultant John Hancock explains that their campaign wants to negotiate with their rivals camps, so that the schedule is set "on the respective campaign's terms, not news or broadcast outlets."

But Steelman's camp says that when they sent a letter to Brunner about debates in early October, they heard no response.

"Sarah will debate anywhere and anytime. If Mr. Brunner needs his own set of special rules to make it happen then that is fine. Sarah will debate with no rules and that's fine too. But just to set the record straight, we have been calling for a debate since the beginning of October," said Steelman spokesman Sam Steelman.